When people come to me for financial planning, they often think we’re just talking about investments or numbers on a spreadsheet. But in reality, money is never the true goal. It’s a tool, one that helps us achieve the things in life that matter most.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that almost every person I work with is aiming for one (or perhaps all) of these five great life goals. When you step back and think about it, these goals probably sound familiar.
Let’s walk through them.
1. A Long, Comfortable, and Worry-Free Retirement
This is the big one. Most people want to retire without worrying about whether their money will last. That doesn’t just mean covering the basics. It means enjoying life without compromise.
Think about it: if you’re 52 now, fast-forward 20 years. You’re 72 and well into retirement. Let’s examine this world of yours 20 years from now:
- Are you traveling?
- Spending time with family?
- Picking up new hobbies?
- And most importantly, where’s the money coming from to support it all?
Inflation alone can be a wake-up call. Back in 2005, a postage stamp was $0.37. In 2025, it’s $0.78. Imagine what that looks like across your entire cost of living. Retirement planning isn’t just about your first year. It’s about how you’ll handle a potential doubling, or even tripling, of expenses over the decades.
True peace of mind comes from having a strategy. I once worked with a couple (we’ll call them Jim and Linda) who were losing sleep over whether they’d outlive their savings. Once we built a plan that covered income, Social Security timing, and an investment approach that fit their comfort level, Jim said, “I feel like a weight has been lifted.”
That’s what a worry-free retirement really is: freedom and peace of mind.
2. Helping Your Children Financially
For many parents, there’s a deep desire to step in when your adult children need help, or to leave something meaningful behind after you’re gone.
That support might look like helping with a down payment on a first home, stepping in during a job loss, or covering an unexpected medical bill. The key is being able to help without jeopardizing your own financial security.
How much you want to provide for your children directly impacts your own retirement plan, so it’s an important conversation to have sooner rather than later.
3. Supporting Grandchildren with Education
Few things bring a bigger smile than helping grandchildren get a strong start in life. With education costs continuing to rise, many grandparents want to help cover tuition for college or even private school.
There are three common ways grandparents can contribute to the education costs of their grandchildren.
Cash Gifts Aligning with Gift Tax Exclusion Limits
Each grandparent can gift up to $19,000 per year per grandchild without triggering gift tax. For a married couple, this means you could give $38,000 to each grandchild. However, you’ll want to consult with a tax or financial professional to ensure you’re making these gifts in the proper manner.
Direct Tuition Payments
Another route to contribute to education expenses that isn’t constrained by a limit is direct tuition payments. Tuition payments made directly to schools are unlimited and exempt from gift tax. However, the school must be an accredited institution, and the payments cannot be for expenses such as room and board, books, food, or supplies.
529 College Savings Plans
Tools like 529 plans are powerful, and in 2025 the rules make them even more flexible. And for those in a position to do so, “superfunding” a 529 plan allows contributions up to $95,000 (or $190,000 for married grandparents), spread over five years.
These strategies not only help your grandchildren avoid debt but can also reduce your taxable estate. More importantly, your grandkids will remember your support for the rest of their lives — a legacy that goes far beyond dollars.
4. Providing Quality Care for Aging Parents
Many of us are part of the “sandwich generation,” raising kids, planning our own retirement, and helping aging parents, often all at once.
I once worked with a client whose mother’s health had declined suddenly. Because we had planned ahead, she had the resources to arrange quality in-home care without putting her own retirement at risk.
Supporting your parents isn’t just financial. It’s about dignity, respect, and honoring the people who raised you. Planning makes that possible.
5. Leaving a Meaningful Legacy
Finally, many people want to leave something behind for a cause that matters, whether that’s a church, a school, a charity, or another institution close to their heart.
This can be as simple as including a bequest in your will, or as structured as setting up a charitable trust or donor-advised fund. In each case, the goal is the same: to ensure that the values you believe in carry on long after you’re gone.
Your legacy isn’t just about money. It’s about meaning.
Which Goal Speaks to You?
Maybe one of these goals resonates most strongly. Maybe it’s all five. The truth is, you don’t have to choose between them — but you do have to plan for them.
That’s what I do every day: help people, especially those within five years of retirement, create financial plans that reflect their real-life goals. Plans that give them the freedom to live, give, and leave behind the life they want.
So ask yourself: which of these great goals matters most to you? And what would it look like to put a plan in place so you can achieve it with confidence?
If you want help examining the intersection of your goals and your money, don’t hesitate to reach out to me to schedule a first meeting to get acquainted.